The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election as an “advance payment” by Nigerians against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the balance would be delivered in the 2027 general elections.
The party said the outcome of the election demonstrated that Nigerians could resist political pressure and defend their votes, while warning that the struggle to protect the integrity of the electoral process would become more important ahead of 2027.
The position was contained in separate statements issued by the PDP Interim National Working Committee and its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed.
Interim National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the result carried wider political implications for the country.
“Overall, the result from Osun is an advance payment by Nigerians against the APC, the balance will come in 2027,” Ememobong said.
He alleged that the ruling party deployed its political machinery to Osun in an attempt to secure victory, accusing its supporters and security agencies of intimidation, assaults and arrests involving opposition figures
.
“The ruling party that is ruining the country mobilized their entire rigging machinery to Osun, with nothing left to chance, boasting that they will repeat the Edo experience,” he said.
Ememobong also cited the controversy surrounding a statement attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, his subsequent invitation by the police and eventual release, as evidence of what he described as pressure on opposition politicians.
The PDP spokesman further accused security agencies, particularly the police, of partiality during the election.
He also criticised the freezing of the state government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as what he described as a delay of more than two hours in uploading results from 470 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The manifest partiality of security agencies, especially the police, and even the shameful intervention by the EFCC freezing the accounts of the state; and the intentional delay (more than two hours) in uploading the results of the 470 polling units by INEC, are acts that are not just condemnable but are actions capable of derailing democracy,” he said.
Ememobong said the people of Osun nevertheless resisted what he described as attempts to influence the outcome of the election.
He urged Nigerians not to become complacent ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Nigerians must vote, protect and defend their votes,” he said.
According to him, election outcomes must reflect the freely expressed wishes of voters rather than political influence or the deployment of state institutions.
“Election results must be reflective of the wishes of the people freely expressed through the ballot and not the enforcement of the whims and caprices of a privileged minority of oppressors,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jungudo congratulated Adeleke on his victory and commended the people of Osun State for exercising their franchise.
Although Adeleke contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party, Jungudo said the PDP remained proud of its contribution to democratic development in the state.
“May this victory mark the beginning of an even greater chapter of progress, unity, and prosperity for the people of Osun State,” he said.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.